6-Alkynylpyridines which are SMAC mimetics and are useful as medicaments for the treatment of diseases characterized by excessive or abnormal cell proliferation and associated conditions such as cancer. The following compounds are exemplary: methyl 5-[6-[[2-(methylamino)propanoyl]amino]-2-[2-(3-methylphenyl)ethynyl]pyridin-3-yl]-pyridine-3-carboxylate and 2-(methylamino)-N-[5-(2-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)-6-[2-(1-methyl-2-oxoquinolin-6-yl)-ethynyl]pyridin-2-yl]propanamid.
